White on White by Aysegul Savas

Tuesday, June 20, 2023--San Antonio

White on White by Aysegul Savas is a short novel, yet it moves at a slow pace revealing what is happening in the lives of two artists--one a middle-aged painter whose husband is a well-known art scholar and the other a graduate student researching how nudity was viewed in Gothic sculpture during the time it was made.  The student has rented an apartment in an unnamed city to conduct her research; the apartment is owned by the artist and her husband and it is understood through the rental agreement that the artist will be there part of the time working in her studio upstairs--the only part of the apartment that is off-limits to the student.  When the artist does eventually arrive, she lingers longer and longer.  The two develop a relationship that is based primarily on the artist's over-sharing of her past and her difficulties in deciding what direction she should go in creating new paintings.  As the reader progresses through the book, questions arise:  Why is the artist over-sharing?  Why is the researcher continuing to listen?  Is there an unknown hidden relationship to be revealed between these two?  Is the artist hoping to develop an intimate relationship with the researcher?  It's a mystery with the potential for a dramatic turn--either a horrific consequence or maybe just a simple reveal.  The author is allowing the researcher to question this, too.  The story, however, is more subtle than that with the ending raising questions rather than coming to a climax.  It is very well written, but do not expect action.  It's more like watching a European film where you, after 90 minutes of little happening, it ends leaving you with thoughts and questions.  I gave it 3 1/2 stars out of 4.